Chapter 22

(pls excuse typos)

        Christina Milian’s Gonna tell everybody played in the background of Lux’s dim room, and besides the somber music the only noise was the sound of her muffled cries escaping from her pillow. For her not to be much of a crier, Lux was soaking her pillow and for the first time she could truly say she was hurt. She had never been heart broken before, and even something as simple as a kiss had her teenage world crashing down.

It was safe to say she would never expect Sasha to cheat on her, and it evident that she was no longer the sweet girl from the first day of school. From cutting class to hanging with the guys more, Sasha had become sucked into what it was like to be popular, and the fact that she was now soliciting other girls told Lux she no longer needed her.

Lux began to cry even more at the thought of her crying in the first place, because she hated being emotional. It didn’t help that her cycle was right around the corner, and she told herself that was the reason she was so distraught. Otherwise she wouldn’t be caught crying over anyone, she was the Lux Connelly. She didn’t need anyone, she had always been a lone wolf in a world of nothing but dogs, and just like everything else in life she told herself this too shall pass.

Unfortunately that didn’t last, as her phone lit up displaying the picture of Sasha she didn’t get the chance to remove from her screen saver. She twisted her mouth, only to burst out in tears once more.

Just then a knock at her door came, and she pouted since company was the last thing that she wanted.

“Go away!” She shouted, picking her head out of her pillow briefly.

“You sure…I have ice cream” Don cooed, “Butter pecan to be specific”

Lux tilted her head up, “Do you have pretzels?”

“Of course what kind of monster what I be if I bought you ice cream and no pretzels?”

Lux didn’t hesitate to raise to her feet, and she cracked the door open for Don to come in.

“I wouldn’t say monster” she smirked.

Don tittered, and took a seat on the edge of her bed. Lux folded her legs under her plush blanket after hopping back into the bed, and the two began to dig into the tub of ice cream with their pretzel sticks.

“Lay it on me” Don told her after dipping his first pretzel.

“Lay what on you?” Lux asked cutting her eyes.

“You know, how you’re feeling. I mean it’s none of my business but I couldn’t help but hear you crying…so I’m here if you want to talk” he shrugged, and while Lux didn’t exactly want to talk about things with Don she was definitely in need of someone to talk to.

“I’m….processing” she said taking a deep breath, “the whole thing…and I just keep picturing it in my head. I wasn’t even there, but you would think I was”

“Mhhhmm…so she cheated?” Don raised his brow, “That’s what all this is about”

“Yeah…what did you think happened?” Lux asked reaching for another pretzel.

“I don’t know…Girl shit” he shrugged with a laugh and Lux playfully slit her eyes.

“Well yeah…that’s what happened”

Lux sadly bit the stick, and Don screwed his mouth because he could tell Sasha had hurt her. A part of him felt a little jealous, because Lux definitely hadn’t mourned the end of their fling like how she was her and Sasha’s.

“Then you definitely shouldn’t be sad, because it’s clear that she doesn’t deserve you”

“That’s so easy to say. But I can’t just turn off my feelings like that” Lux snapped her fingers.

“Oh yeah, you could’ve fooled me” Don snickered.

Lux knew he was referring back to how fast she moved on after only ‘dating’ him for a few months, and while he was the one taking it hard Lux was onto another boy by the end of the week.

Maybe that was why she was experiencing the heart break that she was, as it seemed karma had made a u turn to specifically bite her in the butt.

“You’re never going to get over that are you?” Lux laughed to herself, “Well if it makes you feel any better…I’m sorry for being a dick to you after we stopped talking”

Don smirked, and while he never expected an apology it was still nice to get one.

“Thanks…but it’s cool. I wasn’t the easiest person to fuck with back then I’m sure. And if I’m being honest…you look happier with Sasha”

“I was happy, really really happy” Lux replied, and tears began to come to the brink of her eyes.

At this point it had to be her period hormones, either that or the fact that Keyshia Cole’s you changed was next on her heart break playlist and the song only made her feel worse.

“How about….we turn off the torturing music” Don laughed, standing to his feet and clicking the off button on the stereo.

However it seemed to be too late, and again Lux was crying into her pillow.

“Awww come on Lux, a nigga about to fuck around and cry with you”

“Just leave me…thanks for the ice cream though” she said picking her head up to look at him.

“No problem, well I’m going to the living room to watch movies if you want to join a little later” he offered her with a slight shrug, “and by the looks of it you need to smoke”

Lux nodded, and knew that was the best thing to do if she didn’t want to be cooped up in her room making herself depressed. Once Don was gone she undressed for a shower, and decided to start the. The hot water masked her tears and helped wipe them away as if they were never there, and as she washed she tried her best to put anything else on her mind.

Still, all she could picture was Jaz in her head, kissing on her girlfriend and then walking around school like she was the queen of side chicks. It made her stomach hurt to know they were all in the same social circle, and there was no doubt she would be around the girl again. The old Lux would’ve just fought the girl no questions asked, whereas the new her knew violence wasn’t the only option.

After wrecking her brain in what was supposed to be a peaceful shower, Lux stepped out and hurriedly got dressed. Afterwards she met Don in the living room, and was happy to see the movie was already rolling as well as the weed.

“What’re we watching?” She asked cuddling onto the couch with her favorite throw blanket.

“Dennis the Menace” Don snickered because be knew it was her favorite movie.

“Real shit?” She smiled, and sure enough as her eyes glued to the tv she witnessed the blonde hair little boy roaming his neighborhood with his wagon, “Awww I love this movie. His little bad ass”

“Bad as shit” Don added, “If I was Mr. Wilson I would’ve had to off little Dennis”

“Only you” Lux slit her eyes playfully.

“Yup, only me” Don laughed before taking a puff and passing it to her, “Now…this should help”

Lux licked her lips before putting the dutch to hers, and in attempt to remove the bitter feelings quickly she took long and hard pulls. Don raised his brow as he watched her, and she finally passed it with a look that read sorry.

“Sorry…” she said lowly.

“No problem, you know it’s some Jack Daniel’s in the fridge incase you want to really go over the edge” he joked.

“The guy who makes the friday steak sauce?” Lux scrunched her brows.

Don bursted into laughter, and Lux was confused as to where the joke was.

“Oh wow you’re serious….okay” Don said with his laugh coming to a cease, “The company has liquor too”

“Ohhhh…..got it”

Lux began to laugh as well, causing her to light up for a small second. Don smirked, and for a moment all he could do was stare at her. He knew ever since last summer he hadn’t been the easiest to be around mostly because of his bitterness that came at the result of losing Lux.

If he had to be honest he never truly had her, as he always knew she didn’t look at him as boyfriend material especially because he was her brother’s best friend. And if he knew Lu, he would never let him have Lux the way he truly wanted her. Still, he couldn’t help but hold onto hope.

“You’re beautiful…you know that right Lux?” He spoke after a few minutes of silence.

She glanced up, and seeing his pleading eyes she looked away, “Thanks Don”

“I mean it…and I know I fucked up ~”

“Don, don’t ~” Lux said putting her hand up.

“Just listen Lux. I was going to say, I know I fucked up and I don’t deserve you just as much as Sasha doesn’t. But I know I can love you better, I can give you what she can’t give you if you just give me a chance”

Instead of responding, Lux stared straight at Don.
She knew she had two choices, and even though inside she would love to get back at Sasha and relieve her sadness, she knew Don wasn’t the answer. Unfortunately for him he hadn’t caught the hint, as he leaned over and attempted to kiss her. He let his hand grip her thigh under the blanket, and Lux mushed him away before his lips could touch hers.

“Ughhh, what about no don’t you understand!” she hissed, standing up.

Don widened his eyes in embarrassment and then sucked his teeth, “What? Lux stop acting like this isn’t what you want”

“That’s just it, I’m not acting. I love Sasha” Lux declared.

Don flicked his nose as he leaned back into the couch and laughed.

“Well Sasha don’t love you…clearly” he said coldly.

Lux poked her lip out like she always did before she cried, only to quickly suck it up and storm off to her room. She slammed her door shut, and cursed herself for even entertaining Don when she knew he never had good intentions. As she plopped back into the bed her phone began to ring, and while a part of her hoped it was Sasha begging to be taken back unfortunately it was just Valencia.

“Heyyy girl” she sighed, picking up.

“Aww you sound sad, why are you sad?” Valencia asked right away.

“You don’t want to know”

“Yeah I do, I mean if you want me to know then I want to. Butttt, if it’s triggering I totally understand”
“Boy is it” Lux twisted her mouth, “Sasha cheated on me”

“What!” Valencia shrieked.

Lux moved the ear from her phone, only to put it back to her ear seconds later, “Tell me about it”
“I would’ve never saw that coming…oh my God Luxy pooh are you okay? Who was it? Please don’t tell me it was ~”

“Jaz” they both said at the same time.

“Seriously” Valencia scoffed, “That bitch still wear bangs like Diamond Cutz”

“Please don’t make me laugh” Lux said with giggle, “Clearly that’s what Sasha likes”

“Well first off I need deets, did she tell you when and where?” Valencia asked.

Lux hesitated to answer, because she didn’t want to drag Valencia into her drama. It was clear that she liked Zay a lot, and telling her he was with another girl would definitely hurt her too. Still, Lux was a good friend and would want someone to tell her.

“Yup…it was at Zay’s” she started, “And supposedly it was her and Jaz, Zay and Ciera. She says Zay and Ciera left them alone and that’s when it happened”

“Oh…” Valencia answered after a few seconds of silence.

“But I mean, they could’ve just been studying or something” Lux tried to sound hopeful.

“yeah…Maybe” Valencia replied, “…So, is it like over for you two?”

“Would I sound stupid if I said I don’t know” Lux said turning onto her back.

As much as she wanted to hate Sasha she didn’t, and even only after a hour of finding out the truth she wanted to just kiss and makeup. But she couldn’t, she had to teach Sasha a lesson.

“No, girl. You two were adorable, and if I’m being honest….I’ve heard of people doing way worst than a kiss. Not to say she’s not an idiot, but if you love her what can you do?”

“Kill her so that way I don’t have to deal with my feelings?” Lux smirked painfully.

“That could work” Valencia laughed, “But, I like having you as a friend so that would suck if you went to jail”

“True…I guess snubbing her will just have to work. Are you going to school tomorrow?”

“Yup, bus stop at 7:15?”

“Yeah, see you then girl because all of this crying has made me tired” Lux said with a loud yawn.

“Alright now girl, see you tomorrow”

The two disconnected the call, leaving Lux in her quiet room. She let out a loud sigh, and as she stared up at the ceiling she began to think about how she wasn’t ready for school tomorrow at all.

Usually she would just stay home at a time like this, but unfortunately she had two test and actually cared if she passed them. Deciding to just get some rest, she clicked off the lamp on her nightstand. Hopefully, tomorrow would be better.

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

       The next morning came too fast for Lux’s liking, and before she knew it she was slamming her hand down onto her alarm clock to stop the loud blaring.

Her eyes were still heavy from the night before, and she grimaced at herself in the bathroom mirror once she had enough energy to drag herself into the bathroom. She twisted her mouth, but quickly shook off her crusty appearance and began her hygiene routine in order to start her day.

After quickly getting dressed and putting her hair in it’s signature bun, she headed to the kitchen to get a quick snack before leaving.

She was surprised to see Lucious up early, and the two exchanged good mornings.

“How’d you sleep?” Lu asked as his little sister began to pour herself a cup of orange juice.

“I slept” she shrugged pretty much giving him his answer.

“Okay…you cool? You need a ride to school or something?”

Lux smirked at the kindness of her brother, but a part of her felt the pity as well.

“No thanks, I’m meeting my friend and she should already be on her way to the bus stop”

“That’s cool we can stop pass to scoop her” Lu shrugged as it if it was no big thing.

“You sure?” Lux raised her brow.

“What are big bro’s for?” Lucious smirked, putting his arm around her shoulder and giving her a kiss on the side of her forehead, “Besides, I want to make sure you’re good. Last night was a little hectic”

“Yeah well, we’ll see how today goes” Lux raised her brows. She grabbed a banana off of the counter and headed towards the door, and Lu slid on his house shoes and grabbed his keys.

“Oh and before I forget, Sasha wanted me to tell you something” he said as they hopped into the car.

“Spare me” his sister quickly replied.

“Awww don’t be like that. She told me to tell you that you can be mad at her right now…but you can’t leave. And then she told me to ask if that was a deal”

Lux tried her best to resist the small smile across her face, and she played it off with a snicker, “No deal”
Lu rolled his eyes into his head, and giving her  a look he just pulled off. Lux didn’t forget to mention which bus stop Valencia was at, and she texted her to let her know she was on her way.

“There she is, pull over” Lux said pointing towards the corner.

Lu shifted his eyes to find the girl, only to be pleasantly surprised.

“Damn, that’s her?” He asked licking his lips.
“Uh-un, no you don’t”

“What? All I did was ask”

Lux rolled her eyes at her brother, only to turn to her friend and wave her over to the car.

    “Heyy, you didn’t tell me we were getting a lyft” Valencia chuckled as she hopped into the car.

“Girl, this isn’t a lyft” Lux giggled, “This is my brother Lu, Lu this is Vee”

Valencia waved hi, and Lu gave her a nod through the rearview. She wasn’t blind, and could see that the boy was handsome and definitely had money. All her brothers were younger than her, and if she had to pick she would love a brother who could drop her off in the morning.

Lux on the other hand was keeping a close eye on her brother, who couldn’t stop sneaking glances of Valencia in the back seat. She was grateful when he finally pulled up to their school, and the friends were able to hop out.

“Lux, hold up a sec” Lu called over his sister before she closed the door.

“Yeah?” Lux asked poking her head in.

“Lunch money?” he said handing her a few bills, “Also…throw me the oop with your friend, she eighteen right?”

“I’ll take the twenty, but no to the hunny” Lux giggled snatching the bill and closing the door.

“Really?” Lu shouted after her, “That didn’t even rhyme”

“Yeah it did!”

Shaking his head, Lucious pulled off as his sister headed into school; and he sincerely hoped she had a good day.

         “How you holding up?” Zay asked turning around to Sasha, who was sitting in her usual seat in first period.

Sasha shrugged, and after a long night she didn’t really want to talk at all.

“It’ll be alright, and don’t worry I won’t say anything” Zay said zippering his lips closed.

“It’s nothing to say, I told her” Sasha confessed.
“Why the fuck would you go on and do that?” Zay asked with a raise of his brow.

“Because I love her and she deserves to know” Sasha said as if it was obvious.

However all Zay could do was stare at her in confusion. Before he could respond, Lux made her way into class and the two put a stop to their conversation. Lux and Sasha made eye contact, and on Sasha’s end it felt like it lasted a life time as Lux bit her lip in indecisiveness on where to sit. Sasha hoped she would take her usual seat next to her, but was disappointed when she chose a random seat in the front seat as well. Zay twisted his mouth at the sight and turned back around to his desk.

Disappointed, Sasha put her head down on her desk and figured she deserved that.
Suddenly she began to feel her phone vibrate, and looking at the message she smiled from ear to ear.

      Deal.

That was all she needed to hear, and it was just enough to get her through the day. Sure, Lux would be mad at her for a while but she wasn’t leaving. She couldn’t leave, she had made a deal and Lux never broke those. Finally her day was a little brighter, and she knew what she had to do the moment she got of class.

After the hour was up, she headed straight to Jaz’s locker to let her know the two could no longer continue their friendship. Granted, she could just choose to ignore her in the hallways and just block her number, but she wanted her to personally know she didn’t choose her over Lux and never would.

“Hey, we need to talk” she said catching the girl right on time.

“Okay…” Jaz chuckled, just beginning to open her locker, “What about? Is Zay having another ~”

“No” Sasha cut her off, “We can’t be friends anymore”

“Why? Is your little girlfriend jea~”

“She has no reason to be jealous, because there is nothing going on between me and you” Sasha assured her.

Jaz playfully rolled her eyes, and it was clear that she wasn’t taking Sasha serious at all. She tossed her boxes braids over her shoulder, and sighed as she picked up her books.

“Sasha, Sasha, Sasha” she began, “You’re so innocent it’s almost cute. I know you like me, and I like you so ~”

“I don’t like you” Sasha replied raising her voice louder than she meant to, causing a few people to turn and look, “So just stop. What happened, was a mistake”

“What, are you afraid she will find out?” Jaz scoffed.
“She already knows”

“She already knows?” She smirked, “Well then great, now I won’t have to break it to her”

“We’re still together” Sasha told her, although she wasn’t completely sure if thats what the deal meant.
Jaz caved in her brows, and Sasha hoped that meant her message was relayed.

“Fine” she said slamming her locker and causing Sasha to jump back a little, “You’re not that cute anyway”

Sasha snickered to herself as she shook her head, and decided she’d take it if that meant she would leave her alone for good.

“I am not tryna cheer at next weeks football game. It’s been humid as hell lately, and we all know my hair does not do well in the heat” Amber said to the table full of her friends, half of them being the cheer squad.

“Ouuu girl don’t we know it” Lux teased running her hands through her friends straight hair, “It looks nice today though”

“Was that shade? That was shade” Kimmy, a girl on the other side of the table joked.

“Ut! No it wasn’t” Lux laughed, and Amber playfully gave her the hand.

“Can’t everybody have that curly shit” she said with a sly eye, “But you cute or whateva”

Lux just shook her head and tittered as she dug back into her lunch, using her fork to pick through the special of the day. The table of girls continued to talk amongst each other, and Lux listened as they discussed any and everything. She would usually have more to say, but she was too into her thoughts and began to wonder if she had done the right thing when she texted Sasha.

She just couldn’t help it, and the moment she saw Sasha she became vulnerable and went with her heart which was something that she had never done. She didn’t regret it, but she for sure didn’t know the next step of forgiving her.

“Move over bitchesss”

Jumping out of her thoughts, Lux looked up to see Ciera and Jaz approaching the table. She didn’t even attempt to hide her eye roll, while the other girls smiled at the two in total fakeness.

“Girl, don’t ya’ll got gym this period?” Kimmy slit her eyes.

“Okay Principal Kegan” Ciera snickered, “We skipped clearly”

“Yeah, clearly” Jaz mimicked.

Lux snickered to herself under her breath, and the table’s eyes shifted to her. She looked up to see all eyes on her, and she just shrugged and went back into her phone. Unbeknownst to the entire table, her and Valencia were texting each other although they were only a few inches apart.

“So, who’s going to the dance next month? The theme this year is Winter wonderland” Ciera smiled.

“Not if it’s here” Amber replied wit a scoff, “They need to put some money into our last winter formal as seniors”

“That’s true, and I ain’t tryna take any of these ugly ass boys anyway. Who you trying to go with, Raheem?” Kimmy teased.

“Ugh, no I’m going with Zay” Ciera flagged the air, “We’re like a thing”

Lux and Valencia picked their heads up, and was suddenly interested in the conversation. Lux knew the girl was spewing lies, but Valencia. couldn’t help but feel her stomach drop and all she could was burn a hole through the girl.

“That’s funny” Lux stretched her cheek, “Because Vee, is going with Zay. Ask him yourself”

“In her dreams” Ciera rolled her eyes, and her and Jaz shared a laugh.

“Ehh no, more like yours” Lux tilted her head.

The girls around the table giggled amongst each other, and Ciera squinted her eyes deviously.

“And you know what’s your dream? That your girlfriend wasn’t in love with my good sis” Ciera smirked, “Tell her, Jaz. How Sasha was tonguing you down allllll on Zay’s couch”

Jaz smirked uncomfortably, and it was clear that she wasn’t as rowdy as always. Especially the way that Lux was staring at her like she wanted to rip her head off. She then remembered what Sasha told her earlier, and she let revenge get in the way of common sense.

“I mean, I don’t wanna brag but..” she smirked, “This morning she asked me to be her girlfriend.
Told her I’d think about it….you two just broke up you know?”

“I’m so sorr~”

Before Jaz could continue her taunt, Lux hopped across the table and attacked the girl. It was as if she blacked out, and before she knew it she was in the middle of the large lunch crowd encouraging the fight or better yet the beating Lux was delivering. Jaz was definitely more bark than she was bite, as all she could do was cover her head from the blows.

Ciera couldn’t let her friend go down like that, and didn’t hesitate to jump in to assist her. Lux shrieked out loud as the girl pulled her hair roughly, but she still didn’t let go of her hold. And while Valencia wasn’t the fighting type, she knew she had to stick up for Lux like she always did for her.

It wasn’t long before security rushed into the cafeteria, pulling the crowd apart and prying apart the girls. Lux didn’t resist, allowing them to carry her away because at that that moment she didn’t care about anything. And as far as Sasha was concerned, there was no deal.